- plain sailing
- noun Date: 1756 easy progress over an unobstructed course
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
plain sailing
Look at other dictionaries:
plain\ sailing — • plain sailing • smooth sailing n. phr. An uncomplicated, unhampered, or easy course. For a graduate of such a famous university as he was, that assignment was plain sailing … Словарь американских идиом
plain sailing — noun uncount something easy to do or achieve: The French won the game, but it wasn t all plain sailing … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
plain sailing — If something is relatively easy and there are no problems doing it, it is plain sailing … The small dictionary of idiomes
plain sailing — meaning ‘a straightforward situation or course of action’, is an early 19c alteration of the original (late 17c) phrase plane sailing, which denoted a system of measuring short nautical distances by assuming that the earth s surface is a plane… … Modern English usage
plain sailing — ► NOUN ▪ smooth and easy progress. ORIGIN probably from plane sailing, denoting the practice of determining a ship s position on the theory that it is moving on a plane … English terms dictionary
plain sailing — n. 1. sailing on an unobstructed course 2. a smooth, clear course of action … English World dictionary
plain sailing — If something is relatively easy and there are no problems doing it, it is plain sailing. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** An activity or task that is plain sailing is without difficulty or free from trouble. Once the plans were… … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
plain sailing — /pleɪn ˈseɪlɪŋ/ (say playn sayling) noun 1. Nautical sailing on a plain course, free from obstruction or difficulty. Compare plane sailing. 2. an easy and unhindered course of action: *the leading jockey knows it won t be plain sailing. –aap news …
plain sailing — 1. Navig. sailing on waters that are free of hazards or obstructions. Cf. plane sailing. 2. an easy and unobstructed way, course, or plan: As an heir to a large fortune, he looked forward to financial plain sailing. [1800 10] * * * … Universalium
plain sailing — noun smooth and easy progress: team building was not all plain sailing. Origin C18: prob. a popular use of plane sailing, the practice of determining a ship s position on the theory that it is moving on a plane … English new terms dictionary
plain sailing — noun easy unobstructed progress after we solved that problem the rest was plain sailing • Syn: ↑clear sailing, ↑easy going • Hypernyms: ↑progress, ↑progression, ↑procession, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
